City comparison
No clear edge. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 87 in Garland, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 62, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
The cost gap between El Paso and Garland is the real story here. El Paso comes in 35% cheaper on typical rent ($1,073 vs $1,641), which over a year adds up to $6,816. Median household income runs $59,745 in El Paso and $76,320 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. El Paso costs less and Garland pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Garland are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $568 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $76,320 in Garland, up $16,575 (28%).
The crime index stays 87 in both cities.
The move
Garland and El Paso are 580 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $568 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $59,745 in El Paso, down $16,575 (22%).
The crime index stays 87 in both cities.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
El Paso rent is 35% cheaper than Garland
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,641 in Garland, so El Paso is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $568/month back in your pocket ($6,816/year). Over five years that's $34,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Garland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Garland's median income is 28% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Garland (about $16,575 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Garland is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
Neck and neck
El Paso and Garland are about even on crime index.
El Paso
87 (100 = avg)
Garland
87 (100 = avg)
El Paso and Garland post similar crime indexes (87 vs 87, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Garland are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Most movers who want a balanced city without a clear dealbreaker category
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Garland runs $1,641/month while El Paso sits at $1,073 — roughly 35% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Garland-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Garland's $1,641, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 64/100 in Garland.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in El Paso; Garland only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Garland at $76,320 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for El Paso when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Garland, plus other cities in TX.
